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Stradley Named Top N.Mex Breeder by NMHBA

The New Mexico Horse Breeders Association announced its 2009 state-bred champions at its annual awards banquet held at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque Jan. 28.

King of the Roxy to Stand at McCallum View

Grade II winner King of the Roxy will enter stud at Chad and Tracey McCallum's McCallum View Farm near Moriarty, N.M.

N.M. Racing Commission Official Behind Bars

A New Mexico state employee is behind bars as different agencies look into his alleged involvement in the theft of four Thoroughbreds taken in 2007 from Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M.

CA Trainer Hagan Pleads No Contest to Charges

In an order signed by a New Mexico judge Jan. 4, California horseman Michael Hagan pleaded no contest to three criminal charges stemming from a failed deal over a tack business in 2007.

Derby-winning Owner Allen Shines at Sunland

Mark Allen, co-owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, won two rich stakes Dec. 27 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

Five Questions: Eric Alwan

The Sunland Derby on March 28 will be graded for the first time in 2010. We caught up with Sunland Park publicity director Eric Alwan this week as he was preparing for the track's opening and asked him five questions.

Diabolical to A & A in New Mexico

Diabolical, a grade II winner and millionaire, will stand at Fred Alexander's A & A Ranch near Anthony, N.M.

Ruidoso: State Tax Relief Would Avert Move

Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico has indicated it will stay put if it gets tax relief from the state, but if not it plans to move to Las Cruces, located about 85 miles southwest.

Avenue of Flags to Winners Circle in NM

Avenue of Flags, sire of this year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag, will stand in 2010 for a private fee at James Wasson's Winners Circle Bloodstock Farms near Las Cruces, N.M.

Distorted Reality to Fleming Thoroughbred

Distorted Reality, a multiple stakes winner by Distorted Humor, will stand in 2010 for a private fee at Marvin Fleming's Fleming Thoroughbred Farm near Willcox, Ariz.

Golden Ransom to Buena Suerta Equine

Golden Ransom, a 10-year-old son of Hennessy, will stand in 2010 at Dr. Leonard Blach's Buena Suerta Equine near Roswell, N.M., for a fee of $2,000.

Aeneas Sires First Winner

Grade II stakes-placed Aeneas sired his first winner when his daughter Venus Avenue won Oct. 26 at Zia Park.

Mine That Bird Back in New Mexico

Mine That Bird has returned to New Mexico, arriving Sept. 2 at Ruidoso Downs ahead of next week's $2-million All American Futurity.

Surface Renovation, Infield Upgrades at Zia

When the fall racing season begins Sept. 12 at Zia Park, fans will be treated to infield upgrades and horses will race over a completely renovated track.

Mine That Bird to Appear at Ruidoso

Mark Allen, the co-owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, said the gelding will appear in New Mexico in September.

Woolley Soaking Up First Derby Experience

As heavy rain fell on Churchill Downs in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. took it with a smile. On Saturday, he sent out Mine That Bird in the Run for the Roses, and posted a 50-1 upset.

Proud Tower Too Retired

Grade I winner Proud Tower Too, who stood at stud in 2008 and then was returned to training, has been retired again.

Record Holder Peppers Pride Retired

Peppers Pride, who holds the modern day American record for consecutive wins, has been retired from racing to become a broodmare for breeder/owner Joe Allen.

Peppers Pride Stays Hot to the End

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

Peppers Pride extended the modern day American record for consecutive wins to 19 when she won at Zia Park on Dec. 14. It may have been the amazing New Mexico-bred filly's final performance and was certainly one of her best.

Golden Yank Targets Zia Park Derby

Golden Yank, fresh off an impressive win in the $350,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, heads the field in the $150,000 Zia Park Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 6 at Zia Park in New Mexico.

Major Handle Increase on New Mexico Cup

Final figures have revealed that Zia Park had a significant 70% overall handle increase for the stakes-filled New Mexico Cup program Nov. 9.

Exciting Metro to Graham Farms

Stakes-place Exciting Metro has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Graham Farms near Roswell, N.M.

Scatmandu to Thailand

Graded stakes winner Scatmandu has been purchased for stallion duty at Charlie Pekanan's Pekanan Farms in Thailand.

Grade II Winner Hoolie to P B & J

Grade II winner Hoolie will stand in 2009 at Frank Tapman's P B & J Farm near Belen, N.M., for a fee of $2,000.

Ex Federali Gets First Winner

Stakes winner Ex Federali was represented by his first winner when his son Nicole's Pick won Sept. 1 at Ruidoso Downs.

Raton, N.M., to Get Racetrack

The New Mexico Racing Commission approved the racing license application by Horse Racing at Raton, paving the way for construction of a proposed $50-million Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse track and casino to be constructed in the northern part of the state.

Jockey Dies From Injuries in New Mexico

Jockey Juan Campos died Aug. 16 from injuries suffered in a racing accident at the Downs at Albuquerque that same day.

Peppers Pride 'Live' on TVG

The attempt by the filly Peppers Pride to break the United States record for most consecutive victories in Thoroughbred racing will be broadcast live by TVG as part of its Labor Day weekend racing coverage from Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

Drenched Ruidoso Hopes to Hold Festival

Ruidoso Downs is rebounding 24 hours after being pounded by seven inches of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Dolly.

Peppers Pride May Skip Rescheduled Race

In quest of her record-breaking 17th consecutive victory, undefeated Peppers Pride may skip the rescheduled Lincoln Handicap at Ruidoso Downs Aug. 2, according to her trainer.

Hot War's First Winner

Stakes winner Hot War was represented by his first winner July 24 at Ruidoso Downs.

Peppers Pride Trying to Make History

July 27 will be a big day for Joe Allen. The Texas resident will celebrate his 62nd birthday, and his homebred mare, Peppers Pride, will try to set a modern North American Thoroughbred racing record by posting her 17th consecutive victory.

Zia Park Purses to Increase Almost 18%

Average daily purse distribution at Zia Park Racetrack will increase to more than $300,000, which should attract top racehorses from throughout the Midwest and western United States.

Roll Hennessy Roll's First Winner

Roll Hennessy Roll not only came up with his first winner as a stallion, but his first stakes winner as well.

Ruidoso Creates Thoroughbred-Only Sale

Ruidoso Sales Company in Ruidoso, N.M. will host a Thoroughbred-only sale July 25-26, featuring New Mexico-bred yearlings. The closing date for the sale is April 15.

Peppers Pride Pursues 15th Straight Win

The unbeaten Peppers Pride, the queen of New Mexico racing, goes for her 15th straight win in the $100,000 Sydney Valentini Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino March 23.

New Mexico Joins National HBPA

The New Mexico Horsemen's Association has been accepted as an affiliate of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Red's Honor to Bar Y Equine

Multiple stakes winner Red's Honor will stand for $1,000 at Robert and DelRae Driggers and Mark and Dena Milner's Bar Y Equine near Berino, N.M.

Valenzuela Returns to Hollywood

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela returns to California for the first time in nearly one year Nov. 17 at Hollywood Park.

Pro Prado to Hourigan in New Mexico

Stakes winner Pro Prado, who was stakes-placed three times to Smarty Jones, will enter stud in 2008 at Hourigan Horse Farm near Anthony, N.M.

Attila's Storm to Stand at JEH

Attila's Storm, a 2007 graded stakes winner, will enter stud at Jim Helzer's JEH Stallion Station near Hondo, N.M., upon his retirement from racing.

Avenue of Flags to Hourigan in New Mexico

Avenue of Flags, whose 23 stakes winners includes grade I winners Joey Franco and Notable Career, will stand at Hourigan Horse Farm near Anthony, N.M.

New Mexico Second State to Mandate 'Safety Reins'

New Mexico became the second state to adopt a "safety reins" rule when the New Mexico Racing Commission approved the measure Aug. 21. The Ohio State Racing Commission adopted a similar rule in March.

War Admiral's Kentucky Derby Trophy Found

The Kentucky Derby Museum has located War Admiral's 1937 Kentucky Derby Gold Cup Trophy, and it will be loaned to the museum for its Kentucky Derby Gold Cup exhibition in 2010.

Trainer Wins 13 Races in Arapahoe's First Three Days

Trainer John Arnett started the Arapahoe Park meet off with a bang by winning 13 races during the first three days of racing at the Colorado track.

WinStar Derby: Baffert Back...This Time with Law Breaker

After running one-two last year, trainer Bob Baffert ships Hal and Patti Earnhardt III's Law Breaker from Santa Anita to the Sunland Park for Sunday's nine-furlong WinStar Derby. With a $600,000 purse, it's worth coming back for more...especially when you'll have the likely favorite.

New Mexico Champions Honored

Three-time stakes winner Ky's Quest was named New Mexico-bred champion 2-year-old male at the 2006 New Mexico Horse Breeders Association's annual awards banquet at the Marriott Hotel in Albuquerque, N.M. Jan. 31.

New Mexico Stallion Prospector Jones Dead

Prospector Jones, a prominent New Mexico stallion with 16 stakes winners, has died because of colic complications.

Asmussen Case Remains in Dispute in New Mexico

The New Mexico Racing Commission denied a settlement proposal from an attorney representing trainer Steve Asmussen, who is battling a six-month suspension after one of his horses tested positive for a prohibited Class 3 drug in March.

Penn National Gaming to Purchase New Mexico Track

Penn National Gaming Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Zia Park Racetrack and its Black Gold Casino for $200 million, the company announced Nov. 7.